Clamping-form concrete apparatus



P 3, 1929- s. s. COLT 1,726,542

CLAMPING 'FORM CONCRETE APPARATUS Filed July 11, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR I I giaeb f 6. 6% I ATTORNEY Sept. 3, 1929. I

s. s. COLT 1,726,542

CLAMPING FORM CONCRETE APPARATUS Filed July 11, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2mmiimm INVENTOR A9 2111x2457 6'5 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL S. COLT, F ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

GLAMPING-IFORM CONCRETE APPARATUS.

Application filed July 11,

This invention relates to adjustable clamping devices for retaining thewalls of concrete pouring forms in operative assembled relation.

.5 The present invention has for its principal object to provide a novelconstruction and arrangement of concrete form clamping aparatus, thestructure of which is so characterized that the stresses thereof areproperly is distributed and uniformly applied to the form walls. To thisend the form clamping apparatus of this invention comprises a novelarrangement of clamping bars equipped with tightening wedge means, saidclamping bars 15 being used in combination with yoke frames having meansto receive the clamping bars to hold the same in operative relationthereto.

The invention also has for an object to provide a simple arrangement inwhich but two clamping bars are required, since the same are so relatedto yoke members or frames as to efficiently distribute the holdingstrains uniformly along opposite sides of the form to which they areapplied.

Other objects of the present invention, not at this time moreparticularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the followingdetailed description of the same.

The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich t Figure 1 is a plan View showing the novel adjustable clampingapparatus of this invention operatively related to assembled form walls,the latter being shown in horizontal section; Figure 2 is a sideelevation of the structure as arranged and shown in Figure .1; Figure 3is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 33 in Figure 2, butdrawn on an enlarged scale; Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectiontaken on line 44 in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectiontaken on line 5-5 in Figure 4, and Figure 6 is also a verticaltransverse section taken on line 6-6 in Figure 4.

Similar characters of reference are em ployed in the above describedviews to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character 10 indicates onesetof form walls and 11 indicates the other set of form walls whicharearranged at right angles to the walls 10 to extend intermediate thesame, as shown more particularly in Figure 1; this arrangement of formwalls is adapted to pro vide a mold or form of rectangular section,

1928. Serial No. 291,854.

such as is employed in pouring concrete piers, columns and similarstructures. The form Walls 11 are preferably provided with transversebattens 12 at suitable intervals throughout their lengths.

The form clamping apparatus, according to the present invention,comprises yoke frames 13 consisting in parallel spaced bars or baulks ofa length somewhat greater than the width of the form towhich they areapplied, whereby the same may be arranged to span or extend across theform walls 10 with their ends projecting beyond the corners of the form.Secured to the laterally adjacent ends of the yoke members 13 areclamping bar receiving and retaining plates 14. These receiving andretaining plates 14 s an the spaced laterally adjacent ends of t e yokeframe baulks, and are provided in connection with their inner faces withspacing lugs 15 which enter between said yoke frame baulks to retain thesame in desired spa'cedapart relation. The ends of said plates 14, whichoverlap the outer faces of the yoke frame baulks, are perforated toreceive fastening devices 16 for attaching the plates thereto. Thesefastening devices may be in the form of screws, nails, or any othersuitable fastening device. Said receiving and retaining plates 14 areprovided with a pair oftransverse slots 17 and 18 through which portionsof the clamping bar devices may be extended. Said slots conform indimensions substantially to the thickness and width of the clamping barparts.

When the yoke frames are disposed in place and in spanning relation toopposite sides of the form, clamping bar devices are assembled therewithso as to o eratively engage the same. Each clamping liar devicecomprises a main body or stretcher bar 19, preferably made of metal,such as flat steel. Connected with one end portion of each stretcher bar19, and in overlylng parallel relation thereto, is a clip block 20 whichis cut away at its under side to provide a transverse opening or passage21 bounded at one or the outer end thereof by an abutment member 22, thelatter having a footing on the face of the stretcher bar 19. Said clipblock is rigidly secured to the stretcher bar 19 by bolts 28, or by anyother suitable form of fastening means whereby the same is rigidlyunited to the stretcher bar.

Assembled with each stretcher bar, so as to be transversely movablethrough the passage 21, in a position to impinge upon the abutmentmember 22, is a tightening wedge 24. In order to retain the wedge innonseparable and yet in operative movable relation to the stretcher barwith which it is associated, I provide in the upper face of the wedgebody a countersunk cavity which forms keeper shoulders 25 extendingaround the periphery of the wedge.

Means associated with the clip block 20 and cooperative with the wedge24 is provided for locking the wedge in any desired operative positionto which it has been moved when utilized to lock up a form. This meanscomprises a gripper piece 26 adapted to be operated by a threaded bolt27 and wing nut 28 carried by the clip block, so that its gripping stud29 may be forced into holding engagement with the wedge at a pointwithin the limits of the shoulders 25. Said gripper piece inconstruction and made of operation corresponds substantially to thatdisclosed by me in a previous application for U. S. Letters Patent filedon or about May 29, 1928, and bearing Serial No. 281,413. I

The free end portion of each stretcher bar 19 is provided with alongitudinal row of spaced perforations 30.

When operatively assembling the clamping devices in connection with theyoke frames and disposed about a form, the latter are transverselydisposed across opposite sides of the form, and thereupon a stretcherbar 19 is inserted through the slots of a receiving and retaining plate14 of one yoke frame so that the tightening wedge abuts the outer faceof said receiving and retaining plate, while the free end portion of thestretcher bar extends across theouter face of the adjacent form wall 11to pass through a slot in the receiving and retaining plate of thelaterally opposed yoke frame disposed on the opposite side of the form.A cotter pin 81, or other suitable holding device, is inserted through aperforation adjacent to the outer face of the last mentioned receivingand retaining plate, whereby the stretcher bar is held againstwithdrawal from its assembled relation to the yoke frames between whichit is connected. In like manner a stretcher bar device is interengagedthrough the receiving and retaining plates at the longitudinallyopposite ends of the yoke frames. When the parts have been thusassembled together the Wedges 24 are driven home, thus tending to drawthe yoke frames tightly against the sides of the form and in properholding relation thereto, all in the manner clearly to be understood byan inspection of Figure 1 of the drawings.

If desired auxiliary wedge members 32 may be driven between the battens12' of the form walls 11 and the adjacent stretcher bars, thus furtheraiding in tightening up and securely retaining the form walls againstany possible displacement when concrete is poured into the form.

From the above description it will be apparent that the yoke-frames 13will be uniformly drawn up tightly against opposite sides of the formunder the longitudinal stresses exerted by the stretcher bars 19 andtheir tightening wedges. Furthermore, the provision of the slottedreceiving and retaining plates 14 in connection with yoke frames 13 forthe reception of the clamping bar devices not only assures the secureretention of the latter devices against accidental displacement from theyoke-frames, but also furnish a point of contact for the wedge members24 whereby the pressure thereof may be efficiently received andtransmitted to the yokeframes.

It will be obvious that the novel form clamping apparatus accordingto'this inven- I tion 1S comparatively simple, andof a kind adapted topermit of very rapid manipulation in the operations of both setting upor dismantling a form, while nevertheless being calculated to stronglyand rigidly support the walls of a form, to which it is applied,

as well as in the details of the construction of the same, withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention as described in the foregoingspecification, and as defined in the appended claims. Hence, I do notlimit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of thedevices and parts as set forth in the foregoing specification, norxdo Iconfine myself to the exact details of the construction of said parts asillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim V 1. In a form clamping apparatus, the combination with yokeframes to span opposite sides of a form, of clamping bar devices forinterconnection between said yoke' frames, slotted plates affixed tosaid yoke frames through which said clamping bar devices extend and bywhich the latter are retained against displacement, each clamping bardevice having at one end thereof a transverse passage bounded by awedgethrust abutment, a tightening wedge movable endwise through saidpassage and in impinging relation to said thrust abutment, saidtightening wedge being free to thrust against the plate of an adjacentyoke frame, and the opposite end of each clamping bar devicehavingdetachable means to engage the plate of a laterally opposed yoke frameto transmit the tightening stresses of the connected clamping bar devicethereto.

2. In a form clamping apparatus, the combination with yoke frames tospan opposite sides of a form of clamping bar devices forinterconnection between said yoke frames, slotted plates affixed to saidyoke frames through which said clamping bar devices extend and by whichthe latter are retained against displacement, each clamping bar devicehaving at one end thereof a transverse passage bounded by a wedge thrustabutment, a tightening wedge movable endwise through said passage and inimpinging relation to said thrust abutment, said tightening wedge beingfree to thrust against the plate of an adjacent yoke frame, and theopposite end of each clamping bar device having detachable means toengage the plate of a laterally opposed yoke-frame to transmit thetightening stresses of the connected clamping bar device thereto, saidlatter means comprising a removable pin, and said clamping bar devicehaving in its free end portion latter in operative tightened position.

4. A form clamping device as defined in claim 2, in which each clampingbar device is provided with manipulatable means to cooperate with itstightening wedge to lock the latter in operative tightened position.

5. In a form clamping apparatus as defined in claim 1, auxiliary Wedgemembers for insertion between said clamping bar devices and the formwalls laterally adjacent thereto.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 7th day of July, 1928 SAMUEL SJ COLT.

